intro to epithelial solute and water transport (mini learning) Flashcards
Which fluids make up the extra cellular fluid ?
- interstitial fluid
- plasma
- transcellular fluid (CSF, synovial fluid etc)
Is the GI tract considered internal or external space ?
external space
Which membrane of the epithelium faces into the external space ?
apical membrane
Which membrane of the epithelium faces into the interstitial space ?
basement membrane
What type of membrane junction separate neighbouring cells ?
Tight junctions
What type of membrane junction allows for communication between cells ?
Gap junctions
What types of membrane junction provide structure to the epithelium ?
- Adhering junction
- Desmosomes
Are ‘tight junctions’ permeable or impermeable to most ions ?
impermeable
leaky to some small ions and water
Are the heads of phospholipids hydrophilic or hydrophobic ?
hydrophilic heads
Are the tails of phospholipids hydrophilic or hydrophobic ?
hydrophobic tails
What is the function of cholesterol in the phospholipid bilayer?
- provide structural integrity
- provide precursors for fat soluble vitamins and steroid hormones
Give examples of integral transmembrane proteins …
- membrane transporters (channel proteins etc)
- G proteins
- cell surface receptors
What is the phospholipid bilayer impermeable to ?
- Polar molecules
- Ions
Describe the movement of ions through the sodium-potassium pump …
3Na out
2K in
using energy generated in ATP hydrolysis
keeps relative negative charge inside cell = membrane potential
What is the purpose of ion pumps ?
creating and maintaining electrochemical gradients
What does the K+ gradient (from the Na-K pump) generate ?
membrane potential
= keeping inside of cell less negative, so more positive ions want to diffuse into the cell
What does the Na+ gradient (in the Na-K pump system) drive ?
secondary active transport
= drives other passive transporters due to them leaving the cell and creating a more negative gradient inside the cell
What drives passive transport across membranes (ion channels etc) ?
the electrochemical gradient
= conc. gradient and membrane potential
Do carrier proteins use active or passive transport ?
passive
What determines transport through carrier proteins ?
the conc. gradient
What are the 2 subtypes of carrier protein?
- co-transporters
- exchangers
What does a co-transporter do ?
Transports multiple ions into the cell together = symporter
e.g co-transport of glucose
What does an exchanger do?
Transports multiple ions in/out of cell but in different directions = antiporter
What kind of active transport do co-transporters and exchangers use ?
Secondary active transport
What is meant by secondary active transport ?
transporting an ion in the direction of its electrochemical gradient causes another ion to travel against its electrochemical gradient
= active transport using a conc gradient already established by an ion pump
What are the concentrations of Na and K like in intracellular fluid ?
Low Na+
High K+
established by the Na-K pump
What are the concentrations of Na and K like in extracellular fluid ?
High Na+
Low K+
established by the Na-K pump
What types of diffusion are classed as passive transport ?
- simple diffusion
- facilitated diffusion
Do molecules move along or against their concentration gradient in passive transport ?
along their conc. gradient
high conc to low conc
Do molecules move along or against their concentration gradient in active transport ?
against their conc. gradient
low conc to high conc
What channels does water travel through?
Aquaporins
Define osmosis …
Movement of water from an area of low solute concentration to high solute concentration through a semipermeable membrane